The Berlin-based diagnostics company ifp Institut für Produktqualität has sold its molecular biological, PCR-based food test product line to QIAGEN at a price not revealed. QIAGEN has purchased all the required patents and licences and will immediately begin to market and distribute the newly acquired portfolio of 70 molecular biological tests. With the support of this powerful and experienced partner in food diagnostics ifp can now make available its expertise in food analytics globally.

ifp continues production of own test kits
As an independent business, ifp will continue to produce the test kits in Berlin. Some first test kits will be available as early as the 4th quarter of 2010. At first test kits mainly for the detection of pathogens will be supplied to QIAGEN. Until 2012 the portfolio will then be complete, encompassing the full range of 70 tests.

"With QIAGEN we have gained the market leader in PCR technology. In future, diagnostics - from extraction over test kits right up to the instruments - will be available from one source," says Dr. Wolfgang Weber, Managing Director of ifp. "ifp test kits will become part of a  PCR-based package of standardized  products that are perfectly tailored to each other. QIAGEN will be offering these to clients who need to perform food analyses."

Due to the rapid growth of the food safety testing market with its estimated volume of more than 2 billion US dollars and because of the steadily growing demand resulting from increased customer awareness and statutory regulations, both QIAGEN and ifp were interested in extensive cooperation.

Accelerated food analysis
Increasing requirements are confronting food manufacturers with ever more complex sample material, the analysis of which is becoming increasingly difficult. The more reliable and faster results of molecular tests based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) are superseding traditional procedures that use bacterial cultures and ELISA tests.This provides certainty within only 24 hours about the food product's safety and its supply. PCR technology is supported by renowned manufacturers from the food industry.

"The quality of their assays and their manufacturing expertise make ifp an ideal partner for us", says Dr. Sandra Luley, Global Marketing Manager for Applied Testing. "Their testing technologies excellently complement our package solutions from the sample to the result, as well as our existing overall product portfolio in the field of test methods.  

About ifp Institut für Produktqualität GmbH - http://www.produktqualitaet.com
The Berlin-based ifp Institut für Produktqualität is an independent laboratory and competence centre for state-of-the-art food analysis. As a service provider, ifp offers clients a complete range of services including the award of quality seals for food products. Along with analytics ifp develops and produces innovative products in the field of food safety and human and veterinary diagnostics and is also involved in numerous research projects. ifp has further novel product lines in the pipeline. Their product portfolio not only comprises molecular biological test systems but also microbiological and immunological rapid tests. These products are marketed and distributed all over the world by selected sales partners.
The ifp employs 40 staff at its Berlin location

About QIAGEN - http://www.qiagen.com/
QIAGEN N.V. is a Dutch holding company and a global market leader in sample preparation and testing technologies. Sample preparation technologies are used to isolate DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples, such as blood or tissue, and to subsequently prepare these samples for analysis. Testing technologies are used in order to make such isolated biomolecules visible. QIAGEN has developed more than 500 consumable products and solutions for their automation. The company sells products to molecular diagnostic laboratories worldwide, to academic research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies and to customers in markets for applied testing (incl. forensics, veterinary and food testing, pharmaceutical process control). QIAGEN's testing technologies represent one of the world's largest portfolios of molecular diagnostic tests. The range also comprises their own HPV test, which is regarded as the gold standard in identifying high-risk types of the human papillomavirus HPV, which is the primary cause of cervical cancer. The portfolio also encompasses a broad range of detection methods for infectious diseases and accompanying diagnostics. QIAGEN employs more than 3,500 staff at over 30 locations worldwide.